FEATURES
6A
Shame on bitter grandma
Dear Annie: I am a 29-year-old
married woman with a 14-month-
old son. My husband and I live one
hour away from his father and step-
mother, “Gladys,” and two hours
away from my parents. We all get
along great.
When I decided to go back to
work, both my mother and Gladys
volunteered to watch my son two
days apiece. I pay a neighbor to
watch him the remaining day, es-
pecially since she has two kids of
her own and I want my son to have
some socialization. It’s a perfect set-
up, and everyone is happy except for
my husband’s mother, who lives in
another state. She is furious that I al-
low Gladys to watch my son, stating
that she is “not related” and “not re-
ally his grandma” and that “she will
never love him like a real grandma
should.”
My mother-in-law wants me to
have the neighbor watch my son
for the two days Gladys is now tak-
ing, and she even offered to pay my
neighbor so it would not come out of
my pocket.
My husband has a close relation-
ship with his mother and a polite
one with Gladys. (His mother nev-
er allowed him to get close to his
stepmother, even though she didn’t
come into the picture until years af-
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ter the divorce.) He’s on the fence
about this arrangement. But, Annie,
I love Gladys. She is a retired kin-
dergarten teacher who is wonderful
with my son.
My MIL is giving me a headache
over this. I always thought we had a
good relationship and her demands
really blindsided me. Now she’s
angry that I have allowed Gladys
to have a relationship with our son
altogether. I haven’t mentioned any
of this to Gladys, but I’m sure she’d
be heartbroken. She truly loves our
son and he loves her. What should
I do? — Caught Between Two MILs
Dear Caught: Shame on your
mother-in-law for being so jealous
and bitter that she would interfere
in your child-rearing decisions and
prevent your son from having a lov-
ing relationship with Gladys. We
hope your husband has the gumption
to tell his mother that these are not
her decisions to make, and that if she
cannot accept your child’s relation-
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from counseling. Enough already.
Dear Annie: My 21-year-old
daughter, like many of her peers,
has spent a lot of time wishing she
were thinner, taller, smarter, more
attractive, etc. She is now in col-
lege, studying nursing. For one of
her classes, she spent time looking
at photos of birth defects. Afterward
she called me to say, “From now on,
I want to wake up every day being
thankful that God made me just the
way I am.”
I do not believe defects are in-
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God on an unlucky few, but I am
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nally understands how fortunate she
is to be just the way she is. — Glad
Dad
Dear Dad: Thanks to relentless
media pressure to be more physical-
ly attractive according to whatever
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for both men and women to feel sat-
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glad your daughter found a way to
accept herself as is. (And we’ll skip
wishing to be “smarter,” which can
often be achieved through education
and experience, and which has noth-
ing to do with physical appearance.)
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Those who
lack a supportive relationship with their
own minds will seek constant external
validation. Is it your job to provide this? If
you take it on, just know that it will be an
exhausting job.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What
about when the conversation flattens like
a rug? Instead of marching across it to the
door, you’ll try to zap it with your magic
and offer the others a carpet ride.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are
some things you have to do just to prove
to yourself that you can. They’re not
posted on your social media. They’re be-
tween you and you and whoever is close
enough to you to know.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll be
more fun at the party if the party in ques-
tion is not yours. Sure, you’re the ideal
host. That’s why you should give it a break
and go relax in someone else’s care. Bo-
nus: You’ll get inspired.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You hate to see
anyone bored, even the dog. With the sun
just moments away from leaving your
sign, seize this wonderful opportunity to
entertain anyone and everyone. The spot-
light loves you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Flaws can
be strengths, too, so don’t be too quick to
discount them as useless. Often flaws are
the very things you should build on to cre-
ate success. Embrace your nature.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The omens
suggest you hide your displeasure and
withhold your opinion for now. Also, vent
the steam in private. You’ll gain power
through emotional control and strategy.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being in
a very selective mood, you are unlikely to
fall for just any interesting offer that comes
along. You have rules that qualify your
rules. All of this selectiveness can’t play
well every day, but today it works for you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You
make your way through this day like you
make your way through a concert crowd
— not by pushing and pulling, but by
courteously moving through open spac-
es.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The
road to victory is a labyrinth. You’re good
at mazes and enjoy puzzles of all kinds,
really. Think of this afternoon’s social dis-
course as part of the game — it is.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You
still need a better platform from which to
shine. Dream and scheme. What would
your fantasy project be? It’s a perfect
night for brainstorming with friends.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Extenu-
ating circumstances of late have caused
you to slip on a few matters that are im-
portant to your health and well-being. It’s
now time to get back to taking good care
of yourself.
SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 22).
The beauty you bring to your home will
transcend it. A secret aspiration for your
personal life will come to be in September.
You’ll adventure with a special someone
in October. Loyalty matters to you. When
friends go through changes in 2016, you’ll
be right alongside them. Bonus money
will come in May. Aries and Gemini peo-
ple adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
10, 33, 28, 36 and 41.